Learn About Digital Video – anything about digital video

The invention of the digital video recorder has brought a revolution in the way people capture motion pictures. We no longer have to use magnetic tape to shoot a film; plus, video recording is within the reach of the amateur now more than ever. Each average household has at least one basic type of digital video recorder, not to mention the digital cameras incorporated in cell phones, smart phones and PDAs. What is so special about the digital video recorder or DVR?

Well, first of all the digital video recorder replaces the older video camera recorder or VCR by its capacity to record motion pictures directly on a high-capacity hardware drive disk. The storage capacity or size enables a certain mode of operation. Then, typically a digital video recorder can record in 1 hour, 2 hour, 4 or 6 hour mode with a higher or lower impact on the image quality. One other main advantage of traditional VCRs is time-shifting.

A digital video recorder can record a TV program that you will watch later, when you choose. This feature is enabled by the use of the hard-drive that requires no tape for the recording process. For example you can start the digital video recorder for a certain show, then you can pause the program, and be back in 15 minutes and watch it from the beginning. Yet, the digital video recorder will continue to record regardless of what you are watching. This is the most illustrative example of time shifting.

For an optimal operation of the digital video recorder, the user must follow the programming guide so as to be able to select the shows to record. Sometimes interactive menus are also possible allowing you to record a show for an entire season, or just daily or weekly. There are plenty of customization features that you can further take advantage of. And you don’t need any technical skills or knowledge to actually create the settings for the digital video recorder.

The DVR will normally include a section with all the saved programs that you can view at any time you want. You just have to navigate through the saved programs and select something to watch. The rewinding and fast-forward features are available similarly to the use of the DVD player. More complex digital video recorder models can record one program while you are watching another, yet, most consumers still use the one tuner model that records only the channel that you are on.